U.S. patent number 10,518,013 [Application Number 16/411,803] was granted by the patent office on 2019-12-31 for dialyzer holder and improved airless bloodline priming method.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.. The grantee listed for this patent is Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.. Invention is credited to Troy Dayton, Lynn E. Jensen, DeLoy Lindley.
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United States Patent |
10,518,013 |
Jensen , et al. |
December 31, 2019 |
Dialyzer holder and improved airless bloodline priming method
Abstract
The present invention relates to a dialyzer holder to attach a
dialyzer to a dialysis machine. During priming of a bloodline prior
to a dialysis treatment, the dialyzer holder grips a dialyzer in
approximately the center of the dialyzer, but allows movements of
the dialyzer in an arc motion using two axes of rotation. The
holder enables the dialyzer to move to a position where air can be
primed from the dialyzer and, because the dialyzer can move toward
the dialysis machine, this motion eliminates stress on the tubing
connected to the bottom and top of the dialyzer and reduces the
length of bloodline tubing necessary to accommodate dialyzer
movement. The dialyzer holder incorporates an attachment point for
a venous chamber for use during the priming procedure, enabling the
venous chamber to move with the dialyzer, further reducing the
tubing between the dialyzer and the venous chamber.
Inventors: |
Jensen; Lynn E. (Syracuse,
UT), Lindley; DeLoy (Ogden, UT), Dayton; Troy
(Syracuse, UT) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc. |
Waltham |
MA |
US |
|
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Assignee: |
Fresenius Medical Care Holdings,
Inc. (Waltham, MA)
|
Family
ID: |
50549453 |
Appl.
No.: |
16/411,803 |
Filed: |
May 14, 2019 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20190262520 A1 |
Aug 29, 2019 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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14774414 |
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PCT/US2014/025876 |
Mar 13, 2014 |
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61798273 |
Mar 15, 2013 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M
1/3606 (20140204); A61M 5/1415 (20130101); A61M
1/1652 (20140204); A61M 1/3643 (20130101); A61G
7/0503 (20130101); A61M 1/3649 (20140204); A61M
1/3644 (20140204); A61M 2205/7536 (20130101); A61M
2209/082 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61M
1/16 (20060101); A61M 1/36 (20060101); A61G
7/05 (20060101); A61M 5/14 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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2412285 |
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Sep 1975 |
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DE |
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0 747 074 |
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Dec 1996 |
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EP |
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0 830 155 |
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Mar 1998 |
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EP |
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WO 2014/151508 |
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Sep 2014 |
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WO |
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Other References
Int'l Search Report for Int'l Application No. PCT/US2014/025876,
titled: Improved Dialyzer Holder and Improved Airless Bloodline
Priming Method, dated Jul. 29, 2014, 4 pages. cited by
applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Mellon; David C
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Hamilton, Brook, Smith &
Reynolds, P.C.
Parent Case Text
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No.
14/774,414, filed Sep. 10, 2015, which is the U.S. National Stage
of International Application No. PCT/US2014/025876, which
designated the United States and was filed on Mar. 13, 2014,
published in English, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61/798,273, filed Mar. 15, 2013. The entire
teachings of the above applications are incorporated herein by
reference.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method of priming a dialysis machine, the method comprising:
a) positioning a dialyzer in a dialyzer holder, wherein the
dialyzer has a length, and wherein the dialyzer holder is connected
to the dialyzer by a dialyzer attachment member and to the dialysis
machine by a dialysis machine attachment member; b) connecting a
blood line to a blood side of the dialyzer; c) connecting a
dialysate line to a dialysate side of the dialyzer; d) connecting
the blood line to a pump; e) rotating the dialyzer to an upright
position if the dialyzer is not already in an upright position; f)
introducing saline into the blood line to evacuate air from the
blood line; g) rotating the dialyzer from the upright position to a
first rotated position by rotating the dialyzer holder about a
first rotational assembly having a first rotational axis
perpendicular to the length of the dialyzer; h) rotating the
dialyzer from the first rotated position to a second rotated
position by rotating the dialyzer holder about a second rotational
assembly having a second rotational axis perpendicular to the
length of the dialyzer, whereby the second rotated position is more
than 90.degree. from the upright position; i) introducing saline
into the dialysate side to evacuate air from the dialysate side;
and j) returning the dialyzer to the upright position by rotating
the dialyzer holder about the first and second rotational
assemblies, thereby priming the dialysis machine without
disconnecting the blood line or the dialysate line.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first rotated position is up
to about 45.degree. from the upright position.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second rotated position is up
to about 100.degree. from the upright position.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein rotating the dialyzer from the
upright position to the first rotated position is by rotating about
the first rotational axis in a counterclockwise direction when
facing the dialysis machine.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein rotating the dialyzer from the
first rotated position to the second rotated position is by
rotating about the second rotational axis in a counterclockwise
direction when facing the dialysis machine.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the blood line further comprises
a venous chamber, and wherein the method further comprises
connecting the venous chamber to the dialyzer by a venous chamber
holder.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein introducing saline into the blood
line evacuates air through a hydrophobic vent of an administration
line connected to the venous chamber.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first rotational assembly
comprises one or more limit mechanisms to limit angular
rotation.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second rotational assembly
comprises one or more limit mechanisms to limit angular
rotation.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first rotational assembly
comprises a tension or resistance mechanism so that the dialyzer
holder securely holds the dialyzer attached to the dialyzer
attachment member at arbitrary angles.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the second rotational assembly
comprises a tension or resistance mechanism so that the dialyzer
holder securely holds the dialyzer attached to the dialyzer
attachment member at arbitrary angles.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
During set-up of a typical dialysis treatment, the blood side and
dialysate side of the dialyzer are primed with saline. The dialyzer
is typically rotated about its axis to invert the dialyzer. This is
done to expel any air contained within the dialyzer blood
compartment and dialysate compartment. This movement requires
excess length of tubing that attaches the bloodline tubing to the
dialyzer blood ports. Because this excess tubing length is only
required during the priming procedure, it is excess tubing length
and associated blood volume that is not required as part of the
dialysis treatment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides for a dialyzer holder, which grips
the dialyzer in approximately the center of the dialyzer, but
allows movements of the dialyzer in an arc motion using two axes of
rotation. This holder enables the dialyzer to move to a position
where air can be primed from the dialyzer and, because the dialyzer
moves toward the dialysis machine, this motion eliminates stress on
the tubing connected to the bottom and top of the dialyzer,
eliminating the need for longer bloodline tubing lengths to
accommodate dialyzer movement. The dialyzer holder incorporates an
attachment point for a venous chamber for use during the priming
procedure, enabling the chamber to move with the dialyzer, further
reducing the need to have excessive tubing between the dialyzer and
the venous chamber.
Accordingly, example embodiments of the present invention relate to
a holder for a dialyzer, having a blood side and a dialysate side
both connected with tubing to a dialysis machine, configured to
allow priming of the blood side and the dialysate side of the
dialyzer without disconnecting the blood side or the dialysate side
tubing from the dialysis machine. The holder has a dialyzer
attachment member for securing the dialyzer in position and a
rotational assembly connected to the attachment member, enabling it
to rotate from an upright (e.g., vertical or substantially
vertical) position used for priming the blood side of the dialyzer
to a position more than 90 degrees from vertical for priming the
dialysate side of the dialyzer. This holder enables the dialysate
side of the dialyzer to be primed without disconnecting the blood
side and it decreases the length of tubing necessary to retain the
connection of the blood side of the dialyzer to the dialysis
machine. Alternative embodiments can include enabling the dialyzer
to rotate up to about 100 degrees from vertical. In other
embodiments, the dialyzer holder includes an attachment member for
securing the dialyzer holder to a support member.
In one embodiment, the dialyzer holder includes a venous chamber
holder configured to attach a venous chamber about parallel to the
dialyzer with the venous chamber fluidly connected to the blood
side of the dialyzer. In some embodiments, the venous chamber
includes an administration line having a hydrophobic vent adapted
to remove gas from the blood side of the dialyzer.
In another embodiment, the length of the tubing that connects the
blood side of the dialyzer to the dialysis machine is a minimized
to allow the dialyzer to be rotated without disconnecting the blood
side or dialysate side tubing from the dialysis machine.
In still another embodiment, the dialyzer holder's rotational
assembly is configured to rotate the dialyzer about a rotational
axis perpendicular to the long axis of the dialyzer. Alternative
embodiments can include the rotational assembly configured to
rotate the dialyzer counterclockwise. In a further embodiment, the
dialyzer holder includes a second rotational assembly. The second
rotational assembly can be configured to rotate the dialyzer about
a second rotational axis perpendicular to the long axis of the
dialyzer. Alternative embodiments can include the second rotational
assembly configured to rotate the dialyzer counterclockwise.
In yet another example embodiment, a holder for a dialyzer, the
dialyzer having a blood side and a dialysate side both connected
with tubing to a dialysis machine, is configured to allow priming
of the blood side and dialysate side of the dialyzer without
disconnecting the blood side or dialysate side tubing from the
dialysis machine. The holder has a dialyzer attachment member for
securing the dialyzer in position, a first rotational member
connected to the attachment member with a first rotational axis to
allow the dialyzer to rotate from an upright (e.g., vertical or
substantially vertical) position to a position about 45 degrees
from substantially vertical, and a second rotational member
connected to the attachment member with a second rotational axis
allowing the dialyzer to rotate an additional about 55 degrees from
the substantially vertical position to a position for priming the
dialysate side of the dialyzer. Thus, this dual-axis configuration
allows the dialysate side of the dialyzer to be primed without
disconnecting the blood side while decreasing the length of tubing
necessary to retain the connection of the blood side of the
dialyzer to the dialysis machine.
Another example embodiment of the present invention relates to a
method of priming a dialysis machine. The method includes
connecting a blood line to a blood side, a dialysate line to a
dialysate side, a pump loop, and a volume of saline to a dialyzer,
priming the blood line with saline, rotating the dialyzer from an
upright (e.g., vertical or substantially vertical) position for
priming of the blood side of the dialyzer to a position more than
90.degree. from the upright position for priming of the dialysate
side of the dialyzer, thereby allowing priming of the dialysate
side of the dialyzer without disconnecting the blood side while
decreasing the length of tubing necessary to retain the connection
of the blood side of the dialyzer to the dialysis machine, priming
the dialysate side of the dialyzer with saline, and returning the
dialyzer to an upright position, the dialyzer being held in a
dialyzer holder including a dialyzer attachment member and a first
rotational assembly connected to the attachment member.
In some embodiments of the method of priming a dialysis machine,
the method further includes connecting a venous chamber to the
blood line and attaching the venous chamber to the dialyzer by a
venous chamber holder connected to the dialyzer attachment member
prior to priming the blood line with saline. Rotating the dialyzer
may include rotating up to about 100.degree. from vertical.
In another embodiment, rotating the dialyzer includes rotating the
dialyzer counterclockwise about the rotational axis. Rotating the
dialyzer may include rotating about a second rotational assembly
connected to the attachment member at a second connection, the
second rotational assembly being configured to rotate the dialyzer
about a second rotational axis perpendicular to the length of the
dialyzer. In another embodiment, rotating the dialyzer about the
second rotational assembly includes rotating the dialyzer
counterclockwise about the second rotational axis.
In some embodiments, the method further includes removing gas from
the blood line through an administration line having a hydrophobic
vent on the administration line.
Compared to prior art dialyzers and corresponding methods of
priming, the features of the present invention reduce the need for
excess tubing. This reduces the risk of tangling the tubing when
priming the dialysate side and generally when operating the
dialysis machine. This feature also eliminates the need to
disconnect the blood side of the dialyzer while priming the
dialysate side.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The foregoing will be apparent from the following more particular
description of example embodiments of the invention, as illustrated
in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters
refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The
drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being
placed upon illustrating embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a diagram of a single axis dialyzer holder having
elements of the present invention with an attached dialyzer
connected to a dialysis machine.
FIG. 2 is a diagram of the dialyzer holder of FIG. 1 positioned to
prime the dialysate side of the attached dialyzer.
FIG. 3 is a diagram of a dual-axis dialyzer holder.
FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the dual-axis dialyzer holder of FIG.
3.
FIG. 5 is a further exploded view of the dual-axis dialyzer holder
of FIG. 3, showing internal elements.
FIGS. 6A-C are diagrams of the operation of the dual-axis dialyzer
holder of FIG. 3 with an attached dialyzer.
FIGS. 7A-C are diagrams of the operation of the dual-axis dialyzer
holder of FIG. 3 with an attached dialyzer connected to a dialysis
machine.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A description of example embodiments of the invention follows.
A dialyzer holder which grips the dialyzer in approximately the
center of the dialyzer, but enables movement of the dialyzer in an
arc motion is described herein. This holder enables the dialyzer to
move to a position more than 90 degrees from vertical, where air
can be evacuated from the dialyzer. Because the dialyzer moves
toward the dialysis machine, this motion eliminates stress on the
tubing connected to the bottom and top of the dialyzer, eliminating
the need for longer bloodline tubing lengths to accommodate
dialyzer movement. Additionally, shorter tubing lengths reduce the
amount of blood outside of a patient's body during a dialysis
treatment. The dialyzer holder includes a feature which temporarily
holds the venous chamber during the priming procedure. Locating the
venous chamber on the dialyzer holder enables the venous chamber to
move with the dialyzer during priming.
In another aspect, a hydrophobic vent on the drug administration
line of the venous chamber enables the drug administration line to
automatically fill with saline during the priming procedure. The
line is provided with a clamp that can be opened during the priming
procedure or at the end of the priming procedure to automatically
vent air from the venous chamber and the administration line. When
the clamp is opened, the air is pushed up the administration line
by saline within the chamber. When the air has completely exited
the administration line, the saline contacts the hydrophobic cap
blocking additional saline flow.
FIG. 1 shows a single axis dialyzer holder 10 having elements of
the present invention. A dialyzer 119 having a blood side and a
dialysate side is connected to a dialysis machine 199 by blood
tubing. Dialyzer 119 is shown in an upright (e.g., vertical or
substantially vertical) position. Dialysis machine 199 includes a
peristaltic pump 198 to draw blood from a patient via arterial
access tubing 111c, pump it into the blood inlet side 110a of
dialyzer 119 via blood supply tubing 111b, and back to the patient
via venous access tubing 111a attached to the blood outlet side
110b of the dialyzer 119. Dialyzer holder 10 secures dialyzer 119
with clips 122 configured to snap around the profile of the long
axis of the dialyzer 119. Dialyzer holder 10 has a rotation axis
131 enabling holder 10 and dialyzer 119 to rotate together about
the rotation axis 131 for priming the dialysate side of dialyzer
119, when the dialysate outlet port 110d must be placed above the
dialysate inlet port 110c to allow any trapped air to evacuate the
dialysate side of the dialyzer 119. In operation, dialyzer 119 and
dialyzer holder 10 rotates about rotation axis 131 until dialysate
outlet port 110d is above dialysate inlet port 110c, as shown in
FIG. 2.
Turning back to FIG. 1, dialyzer holder 10 additionally supports
attachment of the venous chamber 180 by attaching the venous
chamber to venous chamber holder 181 on dialyzer holder 10. A
hydrophobic vent 109 attached to the venous chamber 180 via
administration line 185 permits gases to escape from venous chamber
180. Additionally, administration line 185 can be configured to
allow administration of a substance into the blood line.
FIG. 2 shows dialysis machine 199 and dialyzer 119 system of FIG. 1
in a dialysate side priming configuration. A dialyzer 119 is
secured by a set of clips 122 on a dialyzer holder 10. Clips 122
surround and grasp a portion of the circumference of the dialyzer
to secure dialyzer 119 in the rotated position. Together dialyzer
119 and holder 10 are rotated counterclockwise 11 around axis 131,
towards the dialysis machine 199, by more than 90 degrees off
vertical. As shown in FIG. 2, dialysate outlet 110d of the
dialysate side of dialyzer 199 is positioned above dialysate inlet
side 110c and a volume of saline, sufficient to prime the dialysate
side, is able to evacuate air 160 from the dialysate side of the
dialyzer 119. A venous chamber holder 181 attached to the dialyzer
holder 10 rotates the venous chamber 180 with dialyzer 119.
FIG. 3 is a diagram of a dual-axis dialyzer holder 100. Dual-axis
dialyzer holder 100 has a dialyzer attachment member 120 configured
to secure a dialyzer (119 in FIG. 6A) to a support member (151 in
FIG. 6A) by support attachment member 140. As shown, support
attachment member 140 can clip onto a cylindrical support pole via
a support clip (150 in in FIG. 4), or to a dialysis machine (199 in
FIG. 1), or another support member. In operation, dialyzer
attachment member 120 secures a dialyzer (119 in FIG. 6A) against
curved face 123 with flex clip 122 applying pressure on a dialyzer
(not shown) towards curved face 123 of dialyzer attachment member
120. Additionally, when a dialyzer is secured by flex clip 122, it
is positioned along the curved dialyzer attachment member face 123
by dialyzer support member 121 configured to interface with an end
of an attached dialyzer (not shown). As shown in FIG. 3, dialyzer
attachment member 120 is able to rotate in one or both directions
(clockwise and counterclockwise) about a second rotation axis 131
by being rotatably coupled to a rotation member 130. Likewise, the
rotation member 130 is rotatably coupled to the support attachment
members 140. Together, dialyzer attachment member 120 and rotation
member 130 are able to rotate about support attachment member 140
at a first rotation axis 141.
FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the dual-axis dialyzer holder of FIG.
3, showing dialyzer support member 140, rotation member 130, and
dialyzer attachment member 120 separated along their respective
rotation axes 131, 141. Dual-axis dialyzer holder 100 has dialyzer
attachment member 120 configured to secure a dialyzer (119 in FIG.
6A) to a support member (151 in FIG. 6A) by support attachment
member 140. As shown, support attachment member 140 can clip onto a
cylindrical support pole via support clip 150. In operation,
dialyzer attachment member 120 secures a dialyzer (119 FIG. 6A)
against curved face 123 with flex clip 122 configured to apply
pressure on the dialyzer (not shown in FIG. 4) towards curved face
123 of dialyzer attachment member 120. Additionally, an attached
dialyzer (not shown in FIG. 4) is positioned along curved dialyzer
attachment member face 123 by dialyzer support member 121
configured to interface with an end of an attached dialyzer (not
shown in FIG. 4).
Continuing to refer to FIG. 4, rotation member 130 is rotatably
coupled to support attachment members 140 and rotates about first
axis 141. The rotation member 130 further includes first female
rotation interface 135 configured to attach dialyzer support member
140 via corresponding first male rotation interface 145 on dialyzer
support member 140. Likewise, dialyzer attachment member 120 is
rotatably coupled to rotation member 130 and rotates about second
axis 131. The rotation member 130 includes second male rotation
interface 134 configured to attach dialyzer attachment member 120
via corresponding second female rotation interface 124 on dialyzer
attachment member 120. Together, dialyzer attachment member 120 and
rotation member 130 are able to rotate about support attachment
member 140 at first axis 141.
FIG. 5 is a further exploded view of the dual-axis dialyzer holder
of FIG. 3, showing internal elements 501, 502, 503, 504 that enable
rotation about the first and second rotation axes. First outer
coupling assembly 501 is positioned between first female rotation
interface 135 of rotation member 130 and corresponding first male
rotation interface 145 on dialyzer support member 140. First outer
coupling assembly 501 can include washers and bearing necessary to
permit rotation of rotation member 130 with a dialyzer (not shown)
attached to dialyzer attachment member 120. First outer coupling
assembly 501 includes threaded insert 501a, wave springs 501b,
spring spacer 501c, keyed washer 501d, washer 501e, and keyed
washer 501f. First male rotation interface 145 can include one or
more limit mechanisms (protrusion 145a) to limit the available
angular rotation of rotation member 130 and first outer coupling
assembly 501 can include tension or resistance mechanism (501a,
501b, 501c, 501d, 501e, and 501f) to enable dialyzer holder 100 to
securely hold a dialyzer (not shown) attached to dialyzer
attachment member 120 at arbitrary angles. First inner coupling
assembly 502 is configured to fit inside first outer coupling
assembly 501 and secures rotation member 130 to dialyzer support
member 140 along a first axis 141. First inner coupling assembly
502 can include a screw and corresponding washers to fasten
rotation member 130 to a corresponding screw hole in first male
rotation interface 145 of dialyzer support member 140.
Second outer coupling assembly 503 is positioned between second
female rotation interface 134 of rotation member 130 and second
male rotation interface 124 on dialyzer attachment member 120.
Second outer coupling assembly 503 can include washers and bearing
necessary to permit rotation of dialyzer attachment member 120 with
an attached dialyzer (not shown). Second outer coupling assembly
503 includes threaded insert 503a, wave springs 503b, spring spacer
503c, keyed washer 503d, washer 503e, and keyed washer 503f
Rotation member 130 can include one or more limit mechanisms
(protrusion 130a) to limit the available angular rotation of
dialyzer support member 120 and second outer coupling assembly 503
can include tension or resistance mechanism (503a, 503b, 503c,
503d, 503e, and 503f) to enable dialyzer holder 100 to securely
hold a dialyzer (not shown) attached to dialyzer attachment member
120 at arbitrary angles. Second inner coupling assembly 504 is
configured to fit inside second outer coupling assembly 503 and
secure the dialyzer attachment member 120 to rotation member 130
along second axis of rotation 131. Second inner coupling assembly
504 can include a screw and corresponding washers to fasten
dialyzer attachment member 120 to a corresponding screw hole in
second male rotation interface 134 of rotation member 130.
FIGS. 6A-C are diagrams of the operation of the dual-axis dialyzer
holder 100 of FIG. 3 with an attached dialyzer 119. In FIG. 6A, a
dual-axis dialyzer holder 100 having embodiments of the present
invention is shown attached to support pole 151 of dialysis machine
stand 200 by way of support clip 150. Flex clip 122 on dual-axis
dialyzer holder 100 grasps dialyzer 119 and secures it to dual-axis
dialyzer holder 100. Dialyzer 119 is shown in an upright (e.g.,
vertical or substantially vertical) position. In FIG. 6B dual-axis
dialyzer holder 100, affixed to support pole 151, holds dialyzer
119 with flex clip 122 in a position rotated 45 degrees about first
axis 141. FIG. 6C shows dialyzer 119 further rotated to prime the
dialysate side of dialyzer 119. As an example, dialyzer attachment
member 120 and rotation member 130 can be rotated can be rotated
about 45 degrees from vertical about first axis 141 and dialyzer
attachment member 120 can be rotated about 55 degrees from the
first axis 141 rotation position about second axis 131, but other
combinations are possible. In FIG. 6C the dialyzer 119 is rotated
to a position 105 degrees from the position shown in FIG. 6A by way
of a 55 degrees rotation of the dialyzer attachment member 120 with
respect to the rotation member 130 about second axis 131. The
resulting position of the dialyzer is sufficient for priming the
dialysate side of the dialyzer, as similarly seen in FIG. 2.
Compared to the single axis solutions, the present dual-axis design
permits priming a dialyzer closer to the dialysis machine stand 200
with less horizontal translation, resulting in shorter overall
tubing length. In addition, because of the close proximity between
the dialyzer 119 and the dialysis machine stand 200 enabled by the
dual-axis dialyzer holder 100, in some embodiments, the venous
chamber (not shown) remains attached to the dialysis machine 199
during priming of the dialyzer 119.
FIGS. 7A-C are diagrams of the operation of the dual-axis dialyzer
holder 100 of FIG. 6 with an attached dialyzer 119 connected to a
dialysis machine 199. In FIG. 7A a dialyzer holder 100 is attached
to support pole 151 by support attachment clip 150. In FIG. 7B a
dialyzer 119 is attached to the dual-axis dialyzer holder 100 of
FIG. 7A by a flex clip 122. The dialyzer 119 has a blood inlet port
110a and a blood outlet port 110b and a dialysate inlet port 110c
and a dialysate outlet port 110d.
FIG. 7C shows the dialyzer 119 rotated about axes 131 and 141 of
the dual-axis dialyzer holder 119 to position the dialysate outlet
port 110d above the dialysate inlet port 110c, in order to remove
air from the dialysate side of the dialyzer 119 and prime the
dialysate side of dialyzer 119. The rotation member 130 of the
dialyzer holder 100 is rotated about 45 degrees with respect to the
dialyzer support member 140 about the first axis 141 and the
support pole 151 and the dialyzer attachment member 120 is rotated
about 55 degrees with respect to the rotation member 130 about the
second axis 131.
An example embodiment of the present invention relates to a method
of priming a dialysis machine 199. The method includes first,
connecting a blood line (111a-c of FIG. 1) to a blood side of
dialyzer 119, a dialysate line (not shown) to a dialysate side of
dialyzer 119 as shown in FIG. 7A. A peristaltic pump 198 on the
blood line configured to pump blood through the blood side of the
dialyzer pump loop, pumps a volume of saline through the blood
line, thereby priming the blood line. Second, rotating the dialyzer
119 from an upright (e.g., vertical or substantially vertical)
position for priming of the blood side of the dialyzer to a
position more than 90.degree. from the substantially vertical
position for priming of the dialysate side of the dialyzer, as
shown in FIG. 7C, thereby allowing priming of the dialysate side of
the dialyzer without disconnecting the blood side. Finally, pumping
a volume of saline through the dialysate side of the dialyzer 119
in the rotated position to evacuate air from the dialysate side,
and returning the dialyzer to a substantially vertical position as
shown in FIG. 7B to begin a dialysis treatment.
While this invention has been particularly shown and described with
references to example embodiments thereof, it will be understood by
those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details
may be made therein without departing from the scope of the
invention encompassed by the appended claims.
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